Learning

GCSEs

A General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a type of qualification. Qualifications of any sort are your passport to more opportunities in learning and work.

Your prospects for going on to Further and/or Higher Education or getting a job increase if you have 5 or more GCSEs at grade C or above.

You can do GCSEs in many different subjects including some with a work-related focus.

GCSEs have a mix of theoretical study and investigative work. Subjects like art and design have large practical elements.

If you'd like to go down a more practical learning route, you can take the Foundation and Higher Diplomas instead of GCSEs in some areas, but you are likely to still need to take GCSE Maths and English.

Diplomas offer young people aged 14-19 the chance to combine theoretical and practical skills in a broad subject area and are just as good as GCSEs.

There are different types of GCSE courses including:

• GCSE - one full GCSE, often called a single award
• Short course GCSE - often called a half GCSE because it covers half the material of a full GCSE
• Double award GCSE - the equivalent of two full GCSEs

GCSEs offer a combination of written examinations and internal assessments. Most examinations take place at the end of the course but GCSEs that are split into units have end-of-unit assessments.

They are graded from A* to G. Grades D to G are Level 1 qualifications and A* to C are Level 2 qualifications.

You can use GCSEs as a stepping stone to further learning, training and employment.

Don't feel ready for GCSEs?

Don't worry - there is an alternative learning option to taking GCSEs. Your school or college may run the new Foundation Learning Tier which offers extra support to help you develop quality qualifications through personal learning programmes. This step can help you to progress to Level 2 qualifications such as GCSEs or BTEC First Diplomas when you feel ready.

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